Amazon Raises $3 Billion in First Bond Offering in Decade
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the world’s largest online retailer, issued $3 billion of debt to help finance the purchase of its Seattle headquarters in its first bond offering for more than a decade.
Amazon, which had no bonds outstanding, sold $750 million of 0.65 percent three-year notes that yield 38 basis points more than similar-maturity Treasuries, $1 billion of 1.2 percent five-year debt with a 63 basis-point spread and $1.25 billion of 2.5 percent securities maturing in 10 years that yield 93 basis points more than benchmarks, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.
Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes including the $1.16 billion real-estate transaction, according to Moody’s Investors Service, which rated the bonds Baa1. Standard & Poor’s rated the debt four levels higher at AA-.
Amazon last sold dollar debt in 1999, raising $1.25 billion of 4.75 percent, 10-year convertible notes, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
“Online retail sales will continue to experience strong growth over the next several years, supporting Amazon.com’s growth,” Moody’s senior credit officer Margaret Taylor wrote in a report today. “However, Moody’s expects online retailing will become more competitive as numerous traditional bricks and mortar retailers turn their focus to their online presence and capabilities.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Charles Mead in New York at cmead11@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Alan Goldstein at agoldstein5@bloomberg.net
Amazon Said to Enter Bond Market With First U.S. Sale Since 1999
Joshua Lott/Bloomberg
Workers push carts full of merchandise at the Amazon.com Phoenix Fulfillment Center in Phoenix.
Workers push carts full of merchandise at the Amazon.com Phoenix Fulfillment Center in Phoenix. Photographer: Joshua Lott/Bloomberg
Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Cory Johnson reports on Amazon's impressive growth over the last year. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "Bloomberg West." (Source: Bloomberg)
Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Craig Berman, a spokesperson for Amazon.com Inc., talks about the holiday-sales outlook for the online retailer. He speaks with Cory Johnson, Stephanie Ruhle and Pimm Fox on Bloomberg Television's "Market Makers." (Source: Bloomberg)
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